Mounting structure for vehicle electrical connection box

Abstract

An electrical connection box 20 is arranged rearward of and in the vicinity of a dash panel 13, and is fixed to a cowl side panel 15 via mounting members 23, 24 extended from a box body 21. The box body 21 of the electrical connection box 20 is formed with a protruding member 22 for receiving impact from the dash panel 13 before the box body 21 does upon collision of the vehicle. The mounting members 23, 24 are formed to have such a rigidity as to allow the members 23, 24 to be broken to prevent the box body 21 from being crushed when the protruding member 22 receives impact, and load exceeding a predetermined limit is applied to the box body 21. The breakage of the electrical connection box upon collision of the vehicle is thereby minimized.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A mounting structure, comprising: 
       a vehicle electrical connection box having a box-shaped body;  
       a protruding member positioned to receive an impact from a first direction and protruding along the first direction from the electrical connection box, said protruding member including a horizontal reinforcement rib along the first direction and a vertical reinforcement rib intersecting the horizontal reinforcement rib; and  
       at least one breakable mounting member protruding from the electrical connection box and configured to mount the electrical connection box to a part of a vehicle and to break due to a stress generated by the impact received by the protruding member.  
     
     
       2. A mounting structure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one breakable mounting member extends in a direction intersecting with the first direction. 
     
     
       3. A mounting structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connection box receives the impact off a center of rotation thereof. 
     
     
       4. A mounting structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical reinforcement rib intersects the horizontal reinforcement rib substantially perpendicularly. 
     
     
       5. A mounting structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one breakable mounting member extends substantially along an imaginary plane parallel to the first direction. 
     
     
       6. A mounting structure, comprising: 
       a vehicle electrical connection box having a box-shaped body positioned rearward of and in a vicinity of a dash panel serving as a partition between an engine space in a vehicle and an adjacent compartment;  
       a protruding member protruding from the electrical connection box toward the dash panel and positioned to receive an impact from a first direction, said protruding member including a horizontal reinforcement rib along the first direction and a vertical reinforcement rib intersecting the horizontal reinforcement rib; and  
       at least one breakable planar mounting member protruding from the electrical connection box and configured to mount the electrical connection box to a cowl side panel of the vehicle and to break due to a stress generated by the impact received by the at least one breakable planar mounting member,  
       wherein the dash panel is positioned substantially perpendicular to the cowl side panel.  
     
     
       7. A mounting structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the electrical connection box receives the impact off a center of rotation thereof. 
     
     
       8. A mounting structure according to  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one breakable planar mounting member extends in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the impact is transmitted. 
     
     
       9. A mounting structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the vertical reinforcement rib intersects the horizontal reinforcement rib substantially perpendicularly. 
     
     
       10. A mounting structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one breakable planar mounting member extends in a direction intersecting the first direction. 
     
     
       11. A mounting structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one breakable planar mounting member has a principal plane substantially parallel to a direction which the protruding member is protruding. 
     
     
       12. A mounting structure, comprising: 
       a vehicle electrical connection box having a box-shaped body; and  
       at least two breakable planar mounting members protruding from the electrical connection box and configured to mount the electrical connection box to a part of a vehicle, to break after the electrical connection box receives an impact, said at least two breakable planar mounting members being diagonally positioned relative to the electrical connection box and extending substantially along a first plane.  
     
     
       13. A mounting structure according to clainy  12 , wherein the breakable planar mounting members have principal planes substantially parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
       14. A mounting structure according to  claim 12 , wherein the electrical connection box receives the impact in a direction substantially parallel to the first plane.